Nordic ministers discuss the corona pandemic

19.03.20 | News
Christine Peterson/SIPA/Ritzau Scanpix
Photographer
Christine Peterson/SIPA/Ritzau Scanpix

  

In light of recent developments, the Nordic Council of Ministers held a video conference today on the status of the corona virus and how the Nordic countries are responding to it.

Social and health ministers from all parts of the Nordic region took part in the informal video conference on COVID-19 today under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Health and Social Affairs. Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council of Ministers this year, and the Danish Minister for Health, Magnus Heunicke, hosted the meeting.

The ministers brought each other up to speed on how they are dealing with the enormous challenge to the Nord region posed by COVID-19, a challenge that is a threat to public health and to the national health services in the Nordic region and worldwide. 

The welfare models are so similar in the Nordic countries that it is possible to learn from each other’s work in the health service. We are using this in the fight against COVID-19.” 

Paula Lehtomäki, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers

Combating COVID-19

The video conference discussed the status of the pandemic in the Nordic countries, including the number of people in need of intensive care and the number of children and young people who have contracted the virus, as well as national initiatives to combat the spread of COVID-19 and how they fit in with EU efforts. The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Paula Lehtomäki, stressed that the importance of sharing knowledge about what works cannot be overestimated.

“The welfare models are so similar in the Nordic countries that it is possible to learn from each other’s work in the health service. We are using this in the fight against COVID-19.”